'Freethinkers work to make this world heavenly'

Thank you for your interest or previous support for Nonbelief Relief. Please note the change in Nonbelief Relief’s legal status. Its 501(c)(3) tax exemption has been revoked after NBR claimed the same privilege as churches not to file the Form 990 information return. NBR is challenging that discriminatory revocation in court. Nonbelief Relief can no longer solicit or accept donations, which are now taxable. As soon as our challenge of the privileging of church groups by the IRS is over, Nonbelief Relief will be back! If you wish to support Nonbelief Relief, the best way to do so is to give a contribution to FFRF’s Legal Fund, earmarked for the Nonbelief Relief legal challenge. (A contribution to FFRF to help with the case would be much appreciated and remains deductible for income-tax purposes.) Read a letter to donors. Read about the lawsuit.

NonBelief Relief, Inc., is a humanitarian agency for atheists, agnostics, freethinkers and their supporters to improve this world, our only world. Nonbelief Relief seeks to remediate conditions of human suffering and injustice on a global scale, whether the result of natural disasters, human actions or adherence to religious dogma. Such relief is not limited to but includes assistance for individuals targeted for nonbelief, secular activism or blasphemy. At all times Nonbelief Relief shall operate consistent with the requirements of 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

"The only afterlife that ought to concern us is leaving our descendants a secure and pleasant future," says Nonbelief Relief Administrator Annie Laurie Gaylor. The slogan, "Atheists work to make this life heavenly," was originally coined by former priest Stephen Uhl.

Nonbelief Relief is concerned with improving the human condition, not the condition of humankind's "souls." "Charity is not true charity that comes with evangelical strings attached," maintains Nonbelief Relief Vice President Dan Barker, a former missionary who has "seen the light."

Nonbelief Relief rejects the concept of original sin, believing the true "sin" of religion is valuing dogma over people. We know humankind can be "good without God."

We do not have an ulterior motive of "conversion" in giving aid in cases of natural disasters and other mass suffering. Nevertheless, we think it is important that it be known that secularists are just as charitable, if not more charitable than the religious, but have simply lacked the infrastructure to give as a united group under the banner of freethought.

Nonbelief Relief seeks also in part to fill a void by offering help to nonbelievers who find themselves imperiled or threatened because of their nonreligious views, writings or activism. There are many charities for believers, but nothing adequately meeting the needs of nonbelievers increasingly targeted for their atheism, apostasy or "blasphemy."

Our giving is not inspired by a bible or so-called holy book, or by the desire that we will get a heavenly reward. Our giving is inspired by wishing to "Make the world better," the last words of 19th century American feminist Lucy Stone.

Nonbelief Relief was incorporated in 2015, with the Freedom From Religion Foundation as its sole member, and creating a board to carry out the donations. Nonbelief Relief's presidency is reserved for FFRF's president; when there are co-presidents one services as vice-president. Other Board members include Jim Zerwick, also serving on FFRF's board, and Lisa Strand, FFRF's Director of Operations.

Nonbelief Relief will additionally seek to challenge the the Internal Revenue Code's discrimination in favor of church-related charities, which, unlike secular charities, are not required to seek tax exemption, file papers, fees or the onerous Form 990 reports to the IRS and public.

The FFRF President is automatically president of Nonbelief Relief. In this case, FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor is direct, Co-President Dan Barker is vice-president, FFRF Director of Operations Lisa Strand is Secretary/Treasurer, FFRF Chair Professor Stephen Hirtle is a director and FFRF Board Member Jim Zerwick is NBR board member.

SECULAR "INSPIRATION"

We do take inspiration in the convictions of many freethinking authors and activists:

"Good works instead of long prayers." — motto of Anne Royall, our country's first secular lobbyist in the early 1800s.

"The hands that help are better far than lips that pray." — "The Great Agnostic" Robert G. Ingersoll

"I do not know the needs of a god or of another world. . . . I do know that women make shirts for seventy cents a dozen in this one. I do know that the needs of humanity and this world are infinite, unending, constant, and immediate. They will take all our time, our strength, our love, and our thoughts; and our work here will be only then begun."—Freethinking suffragist Helen H. Gardener

"Our life is short, and we cannot spare an hour from the human race, even for all the gods in creation."— Early feminist, atheist Ernestine L. Rose

"Deeds, not creeds."— Diane Uhl, a retired teacher

"Let us use our energy and our initiative to solve our problems without relying on prayers and wishful thinking. When we have faith in ourselves, we will find we do not need to have faith in gods."— Ruth Hurmence Green, author of "Born Again Skeptic's Guide to the Bible."